Game 5 Suspended
Game 5 of the World Series has been suspended.
Game 5 Suspended
Todd Zolecki
You'll have to wait, but for how long?
A day? Two days?
Longer?
Gulp.
Major League Baseball suspended Game 5 of the World Series at Citizens Bank Park in the middle of the sixth inning ... just after the Tampa Bay Rays tied the game, 2-2. I can honestly say I've never seen players in the clubhouse so angry, almost to the point where I wonder if it will affect them whenever play resumes. Players are upset because game conditions were terrible in the fourth inning, ridiculous in the fifth inning and downright comical in the sixth inning. But only after the Rays tied the game did MLB suspend play.
Coincidence?
B.J. Upton scored the game-tying run in the sixth after he hit a two-out grounder up the middle. Jimmy Rollins moved to his left, caught the ball in the hole and turned to throw to first. But the ball slipped out of his hand and Upton reached first base safely. Could Rollins have made the play under normal conditions? Maybe. He is one of the best shortstops in baseball. Upton then stole second with Carlos Ruiz barely getting a throw to the bag. Could Ruiz have made a better throw under normal conditions? Definitely, although there's no knowing if he would have thrown him out Upton or not.
Upton scored from second on Carlos Pena's single to left. Pat Burrell's throw was on target but bounced in the pool (or a pond) in front of home plate. Would a bounce on a dry surface have allowed Ruiz to get the ball a split-second sooner? Maybe.
Regardless, it was a joke. And because of this joke, Game 5 is going to be stained forever.
The Phillies just hope it doesn't stain their season.
*
The game has tenatively been rescheduled for 8 p.m. Tuesday, but that's not official. Both teams will go with their bullpens. Rays manager Joe Maddon said he expects Grant Balfour, who already was in the game, to continue to pitch. No word on who the Phillies might pitch.
*
Should Game 5 had continued and the Phillies had won, the championship parade would have been Wednesday. That won't happen now.
Bobby - you are so right - if the determination not to award a victory in a shortened game was already made, why on earth was that top of the 6th played??? Of course, I would probably be complaining that we only got 5 innings out of Hamels if they suspended it there... :)— NJLouis66- It should have been stopped earlier or not started at all. Selig's saying this morning he wouldn't let the World Series be decided by a shortened, called game. I don't think the umpires knew that and they were thinking there was no way they were going to be the ones to declare the Phils world champions after 4 and a half or 5 innings. But they could have easily called it before the required 4.5 innings and just played it again. The controversy there is the starting pitchers. And suppose they went against the normal called game rules, the Phils would have won, then we lose the series. More controversy. Every way you turn there's controversy unless you don't start it at all or call it very early. path is right -- it is what it is. We can still win this thing.— s
- Also, maybe this is what we get for once more planning the parade before that final winning score. The local media was driving me nuts with that. People at work were putting in for time off for the parade. This is baseball. As Yogi Berra would say, It ain't over 'till it's over. The Rays played badly in game 4 but they are not a bad team. And they won't be packing it in. All you have to do is listen to their manager speak to realize that. So maybe the rain is a little reminder to keep things in order and not get too overconfident. I don't want to see this go back to Tampa!— s
- Having lost our big advantage--Cole Hamels--I can only hope that the game cannot be played tonight, giving Hamels enough rest to start a game 7 if necessary (that's assuming there will be a travel day).— Neal Obstat
- People RELAX: I stayed up to watch teh game starting at 2:30 am local to go to bed middle of 6th. So we lost what-an inning of COle? We have the best Pen in the game. Romero, Madson, Lights out. The Rays won't score. It's up to the O now. I agree that the game should have been called earlier, but letting it go on benifitted us as we got more Hammel innings. It's a shame that he gave up the run and won't go 5-0 like he deserves, but winning it despite MLB's best try to give it to the Rays will feel very good in the end. If I'm the players, I boycott any MLB event and only Phiilies events give interviews only to the local media. Let MLB enjoy the mud they created. Just remember, it is still the Phils in 5— jeff gross
- Jeff - actually I think Hamels can still get the win if the Phils score in the bottom of the 6th and then hold on for nine outs. He's technically still in the game, due to lead off the 6th. I sure hope so - that 5-0 would be a well-deserved feather in his cap on top of the title.— NJLouis66
- bobby, i was't the one who said to start myers - think if they played you had to start hamels. i was the one who said that i hope they don't start this and then have to stop it and then we lose hamels. which is exactly what happened. now having said that Piet is right. the game is only tied. the phils arent losing and they start the bottom of the 6th with a pinch hitter and then top of line up. we know how they like to scor ein beginning of games and then stop scoring. so this is a good chance to put a run or two and then bring in the end of the bullpen. chances are cole was only going to pitch another inning or two anyway so it isnt like we lost him after two innings.— timm2
- You are right, Cole can still win if the Phillies take the lead in the bottom of the first ...er 6th inning. I fantasize about having Myers or Romero warm up and be announced over teh media as the pitcher only to walk Cole out there. Watch maddon go apesh$t with all the lefties he's put in. Not to mention getting the fans back in this. I'd let him hit, even if it is a sure out. Just to play with Tampa's mind a bit. Will be pitch, won't he pitch....it's SUPERCOLE— jeff gross
While I'm rather amazed and disgusted at Bud Selig and how he (mis)handles things, I am not at all oesimistic about where thinsg stand. And yes, Cole Hamels is still the Phils pitcher of record and woudl get the win if the Phillies take the lead in the bottom of the 6th and don't relinquish it. So he's still in line for MVP if it goes that way. The Phils have PH, Rollins, Werth, Utley, Howard coming up when the game restarts. I don't want to even hear about a possible Game 7. To paraphrase Paul Newman as Frank Galvin in The Verdict, "There are no other games; THIS is the game." Win this now and the suspended game becomes nothing more than a footnote on this World Series. GO PHILS!!!!— bobby- Sorry, that was supposed to be "pessimistic."— bobby
- Selig is just doing this as payback for us smashing up his beloved Brewers. MLB wants to extend the ratings for more profits for the advertising. It is just so sad to see how predjudiced everyone is against our Phils. Get mad boys and kick some a#* tonight!— Redman
- I hate to say this, but if they are truly concerned about the game and committed to playing in suitable conditions, the day to resume this game is Thursday. Forecast for tonight is showers, very windy, and cold. Tomorrow night, better, but still very cold and wind, with a chance of showers. Let's put it this way: If there is any rain, I don't want them to go near the ballpark.— bobby
- Relaaaaaaaaaaaaaax....— Florida Frank
- I hope teh players boycott the continuation of the game for 30 minutes, just to prove who really runs things. This is an embarressment to everyone who loves the game. MLB should do a few things to remidy this: a) agree that post season series begin as soon as both teams have finished the preceding series. No reason to wait extra days. B) ensure that under all circumstances the 7th game of the WS is played no later then Oct 20, even if this means starting season in March, or adding Double Headers to regular season shedule. C) post season games should start at 7:30 PM or at 4:00pm if weekend. Fox can either broadcast or let ESPN, ABC, etc have the honor. d) enact rule stating that all post season games which have started will be completed no matter what inning or what teh score when postponed due to rain. If forcast is bad, cancel in advance. With a bit of for-sight, this all could have been avoided, including game three with the lowest ever ratings for a WS game— jeff gross
- Zo will be WIP with macnow and gargano this morning— timm2
